ChristmasEnvironmentLifestyle

Let’s go green this Christmas

Tips for an eco-friendly Christmas.

Christmas tree

It could be quite hard to find a proper Christmas tree as most of them have been sold over the last weeks. You could combine pleasure and convictions, by purchasing a Christmas tree at Silex. Since December 2, this non-profit organisation offers you the opportunity to buy a tree that comes from the Ardennes.

You then could both support a charitable organisation as well as you will surely limit your impact on environment, as the distance between the Ardennes and Brussels is quite short.

Xmas Tree Grand Place

More information here.

Food

Impossible to have a Christmas Eve without delicious food. Some products however could raise concerns about the way they are produced with regard to health and ethics (and it is not only about French foie gras).

If you have plan to stay in Brussels next week and you need both fresh and organic products, you definitely should consider to pass by the Marché des Tanneurs. You will not be disappointed about the quality of its products.

Keep in mind that it could be (very) crowded. Best date for your groceries: December 23 in the early morning (it will be closed on 24 December).

More information here.

Gifts

After taking care of  both tree and food, the last remaining point for a perfect Christmas is obviously the gifts. If you are not from Belgium, offering Belgian traditional products could be a convenient idea.

There are plenty of possibilities to purchase organic and eco-friendly products in specialised shops. By doing so, you will also probably avoid the long queues in big stores, which is actually not very pleasant.

Panier d’Éloise, a Wawre-based shop, suggests purchasing “panniers gourmands”. Although it is not in Brussels, you can be delivered the products at home.

Panier Cadeau, based in Brussels, could also provide you with traditional and organic Belgian products.

If you keen to offer gifts that are not food related, you then should have a look at Belgikïe, a Belgian shop in Matongé, which offers many home-made and organic Belgian goods (clothes, jewels, accessories).

We hope those suggestions fit with your expectation. And good luck for the last-minute targets to meet!

Lucas Tripoteau

Lucas holds a Master degree in EU Law and that is why he decided to move to Brussels two years ago. After having experienced lobbying, he joined Cafébabel Brussels as editorial coordinator. He is today Brussels editor at Pan European Networks and Secretary General at CaféBabel Brussels. He enjoys the Brussels lifestyle and is very keen to provide the expats with an exciting insight of the city.

Lucas Tripoteau has 178 posts and counting. See all posts by Lucas Tripoteau